Ratings platform OpenScore aims to fill the gap caused by the Care Quality Commission backlog, as thousands of care homes wait to be inspected.
A scheme which aims to provide accurate, up-to-date care home ratings has entered its second phase as the Care Quality Commission (CQC) backlog drags on. Ratings platform OpenScore and the Care Consultant Accreditation Framework (C-CAF) say the initiative reflects the current standard of care provided, unlike QCQ reports that may be several years old.
Last month, it was reported that of the UK’s 13,475 care homes registered in early 2026, more than 5,400 had not undergone a full CQC inspection since 2021.
Operators including Hamberley Care Homes, Barchester Healthcare and Shaw Healthcare are among the first to use the system.
Under the scheme, mock inspections are carried out by C-CAF-accredited consultants and then subject to an independent peer review process. The results are then published through OpenScore, with a score given out of ten.
OpenScore also looks at reviews left by visitors, food safety audits and the latest CQC inspection. Homes can provide information on meals and dining and infection prevention, which OpenScore says demonstrates transparency. All this information, now along with the mock inspection, is converted into a rating and published on an interactive map, where families can search for care homes.
“For years, we have seen care providers improve services only for those improvements to go unrecognised because inspection ratings have not been updated,” said Debbie Harris, founder of OpenScore.
“By integrating validated, third-party inspection data from C-CAF with our own live metrics, we are levelling the playing field. It gives care homes a credible platform to evidence the outstanding care they are delivering today, ensuring families have the accurate, up-to-date reassurance they desperately need,” she added.
The C-CAF was formed in 2025 in response to the lack of regulation in the industry and to help care homes find qualified and reliable consultants with the correct insurance and checks.
